PITTSBURGH -- Vern Law was the first one on the bus the day the Pirates won the 1960 pennant. An Elder for the Mormon Church -- the reason why his “Preacher” and “Deacon” nicknames stuck -- he didn’t want to take part in the team’s debauchery as it celebrated clinching the National League.

Instead, the party came to him. Broadcaster Bob Prince was the next one on the bus and cut Law’s tie off. Teammates followed, wanting to pick up their ace pitcher and rip off his shirt and shoes. Law fought it, and in the process, a teammate was too rough and Law’s right ankle popped.

“Every time I threw the ball, it hurt,” Law said. “But I wanted to stay in, regardless.”

Law played through the pain and capped one of the greatest pitching seasons in the history of the franchise. He was named to two Al

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